Demons veteran Steven May is "unlikely" to play for Melbourne in Round 2 according to his coach Simon Goodwin, after suffering a fractured larynx at training on Friday.
May copped a knock at Casey Fields and suffered a similar fate to skipper Max Gawn, who sustained the same injury in the pre-season. However, May's injury is less severe than the All-Australian ruckman's was, with Gawn spending six weeks training without contact, while May's stint on the sidelines is expected to be short term.
A recovery timeline has not been revealed as the star defender waits to be assessed next week, however Goodwin said May would be "touch and go" but "probably unlikely" to play in Round 2.
The Demons coach also suggested the All-Australian defender wouldn't be sidelined longer than the side's clash against North Melbourne next Sunday.
"We probably think with shorter term (injuries) he'll be touch and go for next week, probably unlikely, but it wouldn't be much longer than that, we're hopeful," Goodwin said.
"We'll just wait and see, we'll get the right advice and specialist and everyone involved, and we'll make a good medical decision on that.
"It's a pretty important thing to get right, so we certainly won't be rushing him."
With May out of the side with a fractured larynx, veteran Tom McDonald was called into the side and held down the fort with Jake Lever, restricting the Giants to 22 scoring shots from 52 entries, a far smaller conversion rate than GWS' Opening Round performance.
Goodwin said he was pleased with McDonald stepping up as a replacement for May.
"Obviously Tommy McDonald is an experienced defender, so I thought they (McDonald and Jake Lever) performed really well," Goodwin reflected.
"Early, they probably scored a little too easy on entry in the first 15 minutes of the game, but I thought we stabilised really well... As a group, I think having Petty back there, [he] looked right back to his best, and 'Tommy Mac and Jake Lever' together, I thought they looked pretty good.
"Tommy McDonald is an experienced player. He actually played some terrific footy last year for us in that key defensive post so he's ready to go at either end of the ground whenever we need him."
The Demons play North Melbourne next Sunday, while May's expected return, according to Goodwin, could be against Gold Coast in Round 3. Games against Geelong and Essendon follow.
